JERUSALEM (AFP) - (AFP) - Israel's parliament was poised on Monday to vote on a law that would effectively ban Israelis from calling for boycotts of any part of the Jewish state or its settlements on occupied Palestinian land.
Activists and intellectuals have criticised the controversial bill, accusing the lawmakers behind it of stifling free speech and compromising Israel's democra [...]
BRUSSELS (AFP) - European Union foreign ministers on Monday called on Egypt to embark on an "orderly transition" leading the way to "free and fair elections."
A declaration adopted by the EU's 27 ministers urged Cairo to adopt a step-by-step approach, starting with a broad-based interim government and culminating with a democratic vote.
"The council urges Egyptian authorities to embark o [...]
BEIRUT (AFP) - Lebanon's prime minister designate Najib Mikati on Thursday began the difficult task of forming a new government, meeting with political leaders including his Sunni Muslim rival Saad Hariri.
The billionaire businessman began his consultations by meeting parliament speaker Nabih Berri and then Hariri, whose government was toppled by the Shiite Hezbollah two weeks ago.
He wa [...]
BEIRUT (AFP) - Lebanon's new Hezbollah-backed premier designate was readying Wednesday for talks on forming a government as rivals urged daily sit-ins against the mounting power of the Shiite militant group.
Billionaire businessman Najib Mikati made protocol visits to five of his predecessors, including outgoing premier Saad Hariri whom Shiite militant group Hezbollah and its allies deprived of [...]
KUWAIT CITY (AFP) - Kuwait's premier on Wednesday narrowly survived a parliament vote seen as a serious bid to oust him over a police crackdown, but the opposition vowed to keep up their bid to unseat him.
Twenty-five MPs voted in support of Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah, a nephew of the oil-rich Gulf state's ruler, while 22 were against him and one abstained, sp [...]
KUWAIT CITY (AFP) - Ten Kuwaiti opposition lawmakers on Tuesday filed a motion of "non-cooperation" with the prime minister in a bid to oust him from office, Islamist MP Faisal al-Muslim told reporters.
The motion was filed following a marathon eight-hour questioning of Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah over allegations of breaching the constitution and suppressing [...]
CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt on Tuesday awaited the final results of a parliamentary election that are set to deliver sweeping gains for President Hosni Mubarak's ruling party and all but demolish the Islamist opposition.
Rights groups claim the vote was marked by widespread instances of violence and fraud, while the United States voiced concern over "intimidation by security forces" on election day.
A [...]
DUBAI (AFP) - Indian President Pratibha Patil opened on Tuesday in Dubai a counseling centre for Indians working in the United Arab Emirates, a day after a rights group urged her to address the "abuse" of migrant workers in the Gulf country.
"I am happy to launch today the Indian Workers Resource Centre (IWRC) which apart from assistance including counseling will provide a 24-hour helplin [...]
TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran has issued an arrest warrant for the son of influential cleric and ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the deputy judiciary chief was quoted as saying by ISNA news agency on Tuesday.
"An arrest warrant has been issued for Mehdi Hashemi. He will be arrested and taken to jail," Ebrahim Raisi said without specifying the accusations.
Judiciary officials had previously [...]
TEHRAN (AFP) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is to auction off his 1977 Peugeot 504, a key plank of his populist image, to raise money for charity, state television reported on Monday.
The money earned from the sale at international auction will be given to the Mehr housing project, a network of cooperatives that provides affordable housing for low-income families, the television's webs [...]
Passengers jump out of plane in India after bad landing
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